East Midlands Chamber has renewed its call for increased support for exporters after new data showed a significant split in overseas orders based on business size. Micro-exporters and SMEs reported more falling than rising orders, while for larger firms the results were the other way round.
The British Chambers of Commerce surveyed over 2000 exporters between February and March 2026, before the Middle East conflict.
Summary findings:
- 26% of micro-exporters saw a fall in orders with only 18% reporting an increase
- Among large exporters, with more than 250 staff, 12% saw a fall in orders, while 38% saw an increase in orders
- Overall, 25% of exporters reported an increase in export orders, 23% reported a fall, 52% reported no change
- In Q2 2018, 31% of all firms saw increased orders and 14% a decrease
East Midlands Chamber Head of International Trade Lucy Granger said: “Seeing such a difference between smaller and larger businesses in overseas orders really underlines the need for support as the quantity of goods being exported and the level of resources to overcome challenges differs.
“While the East Midlands saw a 16% lift in overseas orders in the first quarter of 2026, according to our Quarterly Economic Survey, that’s a figure for all sizes of exporter and if we look at different sizes of exporter, it seems likely we’d see a similar picture as nationally with a divide in business size and export orders. It’s also important to note that the research was carried out just before the Middle East conflict and with uncertainty surrounding everything from the movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz to rising fuel costs, including jet fuel and the risk of rising inflation, it’s likely overseas orders performance could already be quite different.
“Levelling the playing field and reducing the burden on exporters is essential but any support should take into account the needs and differing resource level of firms of all sizes. The Chamber’s International Trade department is a valuable resource for exporters of all sizes, whether new to export or needing expert guidance on the latest developments, in helping navigate challenges in order to export smoothly.”
